Opinion: Remington 700-SPS vs Marlin X7

[Dave1215]

Looking at potentially getting a basic 270 or 308 WIN bolt action rifle

Currently debating between a Remington 700-SPS and a Marlin X7

If you've experienced both guns weigh in with your thoughts.

Remington 700 is such a classic, but savings with the Marlin X7 can let me put more money towards the scope.

(I realize the Marlin is discontinued - but have a lead on used ones).

[Mudinyeri]

I haven't shot the Marlin but isn't it more of a hunting rifle?

[gsd]

If your intention is hunting, the Marlin will be fine.

If you intend to step into precision shooting, the aftermarket on the 700 can't be beat.

I've shot both and owned a 700. The Marlin excels at what it was built for, to be a lightweight hunting rifle. The SPS is intended to be a heavy barrel semi-precision rifle. It starts out heavier than the Marlin from day one.

[Dave1215]

Not precision shooting.

Just an old man getting back into deer hunting after many decades.

[SemperFiGuy]

My deer rifle is a .30-06 Marlin XL7, which is what they were called before they were called X7.

Everything you need in a bolt-action deer rifle is there.   (No need to list all the fine features in this remarkably-valued hunting rifle; you can Google for yourself.)   Plus that great big barrel locking nut.

And.........the Marlins have the Pro-Fire trigger, which many gun writers prefer to the Savage Accu-trigger.   That trigger is sweeeeeeeeeeet.

And the cost of the Marlin X/XL7 is about 50-60 percent of the Remington SPS (altogether a fine, fine rifle, but not the equivalent Bang-for-Buck as with the Marlins.)

You can't go wrong, either way.   But for accuracy and value, the Marlins are pretty much unbeatable.

And I'm traditionally a hardcore Remington Guy  (my main prairie doggin' gun is a Remington 700BDL in .17Rem.................  Have owned Remington 40XB, Remington 03A3, several Remington 788s, Remington this, Remington that, etc., etc.)  But love those Marlins.

sfg




 

[Dave1215]

You confirmed my thoughts.

I was just nervous due to (1) price and (2) they stopped making them - so both led me to wonder if there were issues....   I read a lot online that was right with what you said - I think it was perception - people saw price and thought cheap...

As I said Marlin discontinued the model, but Cabela's has a used 308

Thanks for first hand confirmation of what I had been reading in other reviews/forums... looks like Cabelas might make a sale.

[Mudinyeri]

Not precision shooting.

Just an old man getting back into deer hunting after many decades.

You don't want to haul a bull-barreled SPS Tactical around hunting.

[Dave1215]

Thanks for both the public replies as well as the various private messages.   

Ended up buying a used Marlin XS7 308 with a new vortex diamondback 4-12x40 scope for a bit less than a new Remington 700 SPS (without scope) would have cost.

Feedback did help confirm the decision....appreciate it.